New Year Hopes...

Gosh, the holidays have come and gone... thank goodness. So much to look forward to this year... a trip to Hawaii, a new direction for my Etsy shop, craft shows to line up, new classes to teach at East Street Beads, new friends to meet through beading, etc. I'm super excited to share this with my readers.

After much thought and reflection, I've decided to focus my creative energies on Kumihimo braiding. Anyone can string beads, but I love finding a pendant with that "WOW" factor and then creating a complimentary Kumi braid. I just ordered two beautiful lampwork glass focal beads on Etsy, one from Norway and the other from Israel! I'm super excited to get them in the mail and start a Kumi braid for each!

Kumi, Kumi... I'm hooked on braiding! First you find that special focal piece that touches your heart and/or releases your creative energy. Then you start to visualize the braid that will most compliment it. Do you want the braid to accent the piece or the piece to accent the braid? Or both? Next you start to think about matching up the colors and deciding what material to use. That's the fun part of Kumi braiding... you can use fiber and beads! Mix it up, try something new... Satin cord, yarn, wire, silk, waxed linen mixed with... seedbeads, semiprecious stone chips, fire polished Czech glass, Swarovski crystals! I could go on and on because as I tell my Kumihimo students, the skies the limit! Don't be afraid to try a new fiber or a different bead or stone. Unleash the Kumi Queen or King and you'll be creating great pieces, too.

I use a simple foam disk for creating my braids but someday I'd love to try the Marudai Table, the original way to make a braid that is centuries old in Japan. I'm not a Kumi expert and I have lots to learn. That's so exciting! So if you've been thinking about trying a new skill this year, try Kumihimo Braiding and soon you'll be hooked, too. I still love stringing... every once in a while I take a Kumi break and go back to my roots. But my true love is Kumi.

Tis the Season!

With the holidays only weeks away, I've decided to give my online shops a real facelift! Over the past year I've been so busy working, teaching, and getting ready to do craftshows that I let both of my shops, bizeebeecreations.etsy.com and bizeebeecreations.artfire.com fall into disrepair... Shame on me! But online shops are a lot of work and something had to take the backseat. Now I'm happy to announce that, Ta Da,.... (I'm doing a drumroll) "I'M BACK!!!! " Bigger, brighter, and better than ever! Check out my shop! You'll see a few familiar items that didn't sell last year, but I'm headed into a different direction. Still the same high quality, though.

I need to add another dimension to my shops and I've noticed that shops with an additional line of products that compliment jewelry seem to do well. So what should it be? Hats, purses, soap, vintage buttons??? Hm, buttons sound great. I went to a bead show this past weekend and purchased some lovely vintage Czech glass buttons... But maybe that's not the right avenue for me. Big fluffy scarves seem to be everywhere around peoples necks these days... Paired up with the right necklace and/or earrings, they look very stylish! I need to be able to offer another dimension to my jewelry shop, to attract cross-over buyers. Something different than other shops and it has to be handmade or vintage. I'm brain-storming, but in the meantime, check out my Great Christmas items in both shops!

Flat Spiral Bracelets!

I just love making Flat Spiral Bracelets! A customer came into the Bead Shop where I work and showed me how to do the Flat Spiral weave and I think I'll make one in every possible color! I've made about 10-12 so far! They are so easy and so much fun! Here's an example of one that I made for Christmas:I used 6mm Swarovski bicone crystals for the center, 4mm crystals for the edges, and 11/0 Delica seedbeads for the weave. Isn't it pretty? The next time I make one I promise to take pictures as I go. I think you can find demos on several websites like Artbeads.com or FusionBeads.com. If you haven't tried seedbead weaving before but would like to give it a try this is the pattern to do! Have fun with it and soon you'll be creating one in every possible color and combo just like me! And all your friends and relatives will be Oohing & Ahhing too!

Christmas...Oh Christmas!

Can you believe that it's almost Christmas??? I just finished making my last Christmas present this evening! I am so ready for the big day...Christmas! The presents are wrapped... the cookies are baked... the tree is decorated... the stockings are hung... and the eggnog is chillin' in the fridge! YAY! Oops... Guess there's one more itty bitty detail... the Christmas cards! Yikes! Got to get on that this very weekend... after work! My scaled down budget had two major advantages... LESS SHOPPING and LESS WRAPPING! YAY! I can't believe how much I saved this year by really sticking to my budget! In years gone by "the budget" was just sort of a nice idea but this year it's solid as a rock! And I feel GREAT! None of that deep pitted anxiety that I spent way too much... Nope! My husband & I agreed not to buy more than a few small stocking stuffers for each other and that saved a bundle! Each of the adult kids will have one present to open and their stockings. Afterall, they told me that the stocking is their "main event" so I couldn't skip that! So bring on Christmas cause I'm full of good cheer and mighty glad that the year ended so well for me and my family! Christmas ... oh Christmas!

For all of you late last minute shoppers... I still have many Super Deals in my Etsy shop! Come and take a look! www.bizeebeecreations.etsy.com

Super Saver Deals!

When I started designing and creating my winter/holiday line of jewelry, I decided to skip all the ultra-fancy, ultra-expensive options. I concentrated on creating quality made, economical, holiday spirited jewelry. Then I came up with the idea of labeling it "Super Saver". Not very original... but it gets the point across. I still use sterling silver in most items but I've gotten away from using some of the pricey beads that really rack up the cost. I have lots of those beads still on hand but for now I'm laying those aside so that I can offer bright holiday jewelry to fashion savvy shoppers that are on a tight budget this year.

Don't you just love the bright reds and greens that dominate the color palette for the holidays! When I'm in my studio those colors tend to cheer me up and I get energized! Most of what I make is very colorful, because vibrant colors make me feel alive and happy! You can't be around bright colors and not feel the excitement of the holidays!

So if you're on a tight budget this year but still want to buy jewelry that will last for many years to come, take a peek at my Bizee Bee Creations Shop! I'm on Etsy and on Artfire. Two shops that carry a full range of holiday shopping fun and Super Savor Deals!

Let the Holiday Shopping Begin!

Yes, we're all cutting back on our holiday shopping budget... or at least I am. All of my adult children will just have to understand that we can no longer afford the big extravagant Christmas's of the past. But I'm sure we're in the same boat with a lot of other families. My husband was laid off this year and took a paycut in his new job but at least he's working! I found a new job that I love but it doesn't pay too well either!
It will be a family fun chaotic time with many memories but fewer presents to open. So this year we're concentrating on the gift of "Family-Time Together". If all goes as hoped, our family will be together this year with all 3 of our adult kids and their families coming to our house. I'm delaying my holiday shopping until later this month to see if the big sales will help S-T-R-E-T-C-H the budget a little.
I'm still creating lots of budget friendly items for holiday shoppers in my Etsy shop. With Earrings $12.50 and under, Bracelets $22 and under, and reasonably priced Necklaces too. I decided to keep cost under control and pass the savings along to those that like to purchase unique handmade jewelry for gifts.
So let the holiday shopping begin!

It's Time To Kumihimo!

I was lucky enough to have lived in Japan for three years back in the late 60's-early 70's. My father was in the Air Force and stationed at Tachikawa AFB, and we lived in a Family Housing Annex named Kanto Maura. I attended Chofu Middle & High School when I was in 7th-10th grade, and I made some pretty good friends there. We had a blast going shopping on the Ginza and riding the trains all over Tokyo. We ate at the local restaurants and my favorite Japanese dishes were Gyoza , Fried Rice, Yakatori, and Yakasoba. I guess Sushi was available but not all that popular with the Americans, so it didn't interest me. I even had a good paying weekend job teaching Japanese pre-schoolers how to speak English. That was lots of fun and the kids were so cute! 1000 yen bought a lot of happiness for a teenager back then, and I loved to shop for anything Japanese! Bought my very first pair of Panty-Hose in Tokyo! We didn't have them in the states in the 60's as far as I know! I made it to the World's Fair in Osaka when I was in 9th grade. Osaka was a beautiful city and the fair was fantastic. All in all, I have the best memories of living in Japan. The people were kind and very tolerant of silly, giggling American teenage girls! I'd love to go back and visit Tokyo but I know that it has grown and changed a lot in the last 40 years!

So it doesn't surprise me to discover two amazing crafting skills from Japan! Japanese Style Amigurumi Crochet and Kumihimo Braided Jewelry! Both are so darn clever and fun! It takes a little while to get the hang of the circular crochet patterns of Amigurumi but once you do, you're hooked! ;~) LOL! And Kumihimo is also based on a circular concept as well and involves a round disk that you turn in a circle as you move your cords to create a braid. I've made two bracelets so far and I've ordered more supplies so that I can practice and perfect my technique! I hope to list some of my creations in my Etsy and Artfire shops very soon!
I loved living in Japan and I'm very happy to add two totally rewarding and entertaining new skills to my crafting journal! If you haven't Kumihimo-ed yet, give it a try!

Bizee Bee Sale!

This Yellow Ruffle Bracelet and earrings would really make someone smile this Christmas! Come and see what's for sale in my Etsy Shop! Lot's of bargains...Prices marked down at least 20% with a special "Buy one get one (equal or lesser value)at 30% off! You won't be disappointed! Lots of bracelets and earrings to match for that special mom, sister, daughter, friend, or co-worker!

August Sale!

Happy August! Fall is right around the corner and I'm busy making some spectacular Fall Jewelry! In order to make room for my new selections, I've dropped prices in my Etsy shop by 20% AND... I'm offering a "BUY one item and get the second of equal or lesser value for 30% off". Just mention August Sale in the comment section and I will refund the savings through Paypal!
OOPS! Now how did Sophie's picture make it into my August Sale? She just wants to go out and play instead of watching me work on my Fall Projects!!! Come to my Etsy Shop and enjoy spectacular savings on Unique One-of-a-Kind Designs! www.bizeebeecreations.etsy.com

Renaissance Time?

Here in the Mid-Atlantic area when you've got those late summer blues and the magic of the holidays is still a long way off, the Maryland & Virginia Renaissance Faires are something to get excited about. Now I've never been to either one but I'm contemplating the possibility of going this year. I guess my reluctance to attend in the past has been that I've lived in Europe and I've seen beautiful castles. So why go to a fair that celebrates the Renaissance? I think this is the year to go and get some inspiration. Maybe eat a turkey leg and watch some Jousting? To celebrate the Renaissance Spirit I've designed my Dragon Collection. I'm a romantic at heart and tales of dragons and castles have always intrigued and excited me.
My friend Nikki, @ www.bastilleblue.etsy.com or www.bastillebleu.artfire.com created the lampwork beads for this collection! I know I'm buying quality when I buy from her Etsy or Artfire Shop!